Equipment has been received for an upgrade of its Patriot missile batteries that includes enhanced capability to destroy ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and aircraft, according to a US army statement.

The Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3), upgraded from PAC-2, will offer better defenses for South Korean and US forces, which regard North Korea's missile development as a major threat to regional security on top of its nuclear weapons drive.

The PAC-3 system is part of the 11 billion dollar investment over the next several years to improve US defense capabilities on the Korean peninsula, which has been divided into rival North and South for more than half a century.

"The upgraded Patriot system will bring enhanced defensive capabilities to the peninsula as well as contribute to the overall deterrence US forces bring to the alliance," the statement said.

North Korea has already deployed short range Scuds and Rodongs with a range of 1,300 kilometers (800 miles), while actively developing longer-range Taepodong missiles.

The development of Taepodong-2 missiles with a range of up to 6,000 kilometers is underway in North Korea, according to South Korean defense analysts.

At a summit between the leaders of Japan and North Korea in September last year, North Korea pledged to extend a moratorium on ballistic missile testing beyond 2003.

But North Korea has since vowed to boost its military strength, insisting it would be the next target of a pre-emptive US military attack to snuff out its suspected nuclear weapons ambitions.

WAR.WIRE